Peter, a high school junior from NYC, writes:

“I’m starting to look into where I want to go to college and I’m trying to decide what’s better, bigger or smaller. Thanks.”

Well, Peter, the first question on College Chat and I can’t even give you a definite answer! That’s because one isn’t necessarily better than the other. It a matter of individual preference. While some students might thrive in a small, inimate environment, some might feel at home in the middle of a bustling, city-like campus. For others, it might not make a difference.

Most likely, however, deciding whether to attend a large or small school is a crucial decision. You have to ask yourself a few important questions:

• Would I mind seeing the same people day after day after day–no matter where I am on campus?
• Would I be bothered walking around campus and not seeing a familiar face?
• Was my high school large or small? Did I feel comfortable in that size school, or would I have preferred it to have more/less students?
• Would I feel uncomfortable with professors knowing my name, or be bothered if they didn’t?

Also, visit one or two large campuses, a couple small ones, and a few in between to get a better idea of where you feel most at home. Visiting is the single best way to determine your preference–aside from, or course, attending!

It also might be a good idea to do an overnight visit if that’s an option (many overnight programs are only available for seniors or even admitted students, though, so it might not be).

Good luck, and feel free to ask for advice again in the future.

P.S. You might also want to refer to last month’s College Chat article, College Visits.